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FREEE Recycle Limited and the Rural Women Energy Security Initiative (RUWES) have entered into a landmark partnership to convert recycled aerosol waste into clean cooking fuel for women in rural and peri-urban communities across Nigeria.
In a joint statement, both organisations said the collaboration focuses on distributing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) recovered from Nigeria’s first aerosol recycling plant, developed by FREEE Recycle in partnership with DeSpray Environmental. The initiative aims to tackle energy poverty, promote women’s empowerment, and support environmental sustainability.
Under the agreement, FREEE Recycle will supply LPG derived from processed aerosol waste, while RUWES will leverage its nationwide network of women-led groups to facilitate the distribution and adoption of the cleaner fuel in underserved areas.
The partnership also includes policy advocacy and capacity-building programmes to empower women in the clean energy value chain, promoting inclusive participation in environmental management and sustainable development.
Speaking on the collaboration, Managing Director of FREEE Recycle, Ifedolapo Runsewe, said the initiative underscores the company’s belief in transforming waste into valuable resources.
“At FREEE Recycle, we are driven by the conviction that waste can be transformed into real solutions for people and the planet. This partnership with RUWES allows us to close the loop, recovering gas from aerosol waste and redirecting it to meet the pressing energy needs of women and families in underserved communities,” Runsewe said.
She added that the project reinforces the circular economy model and promotes gender inclusion, positioning women as key players in the sustainable energy transition.
Also speaking, the Head of Secretariat of RUWES, Mrs. Jumaima Ella, said the partnership aligns with RUWES’s mission to expand access to clean energy while empowering women through entrepreneurship.
“We’re a self-help, women-led NGO with over two million members across Nigeria. We empower women to demand increased access to clean energy products through our innovative Gender Social Enterprise Model. By collaborating with FREEE Recycle, we’re advancing our shared vision of a sustainable future and promoting energy security for women and families in underserved communities,” Ella stated.
The initiative targets one of Nigeria’s most critical public health challenges — the widespread use of firewood and unsafe fuels for cooking. According to the World Bank, over 98,000 Nigerian women die annually from smoke inhalation caused by cooking with firewood, highlighting the urgency of cleaner alternatives.
By turning waste into energy, the partnership between FREEE Recycle and RUWES offers a dual solution to Nigeria’s waste management and energy access challenges, while also empowering women as agents of change in the clean energy ecosystem.
